Love the planet? Then fly less…. and enjoy a go green holiday in North Devon. It’s the simple but inconvenient truth for many of us who want to lead environmentally friendly lives but tend to ignore, when it suits us, the negative contributions we make. This is never truer than our holiday habits – for instance there is some irony to ‘jetting off’ to an eco friendly holiday resort halfway round the world!
Ok, so this may sound like shock tactics – cancel the foreign holiday this year and take your break in North Devon! – but there is some truth in this article’s opening statement. On the flip side, if you follow this advice, to take a green holiday in North Devon, you may just discover what you’ve been missing all this time!
If there’s one thing that North Devon offers in bundles, it’s opportunities to appreciate the environment at its most raw, fresh and enchanting. Ok, so the sun may not shine every day, but in the summer months the temperatures of the South West are mostly pleasant, and when the sun does shine, this part of England can visually compete with anywhere in the world.
Its environmental credentials are impeccable. The region is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beautyand a UNESCO Biosphere, and hosts a National Park, making it the perfect destination for anyone seeking a moreeco friendly holiday this summer.
Eco Friendly Destinations in North Devon
Ilfracombe, home to the Carlton Hotel and its 30 4* quality rooms, is ideally suited to make the most of two fantastic natural green holiday destinations in North Devon, right on the doorstep.
Braunton Burrowsis a UNESCO biosphere and is situated in the most ecologically diverse parish in England. To appreciate the environment in all its glory is to be reminded of the importance of working to preserve it, and ‘The Burrows’ delivers a wonderful example in this respect.
Christie Estates, which owns the land, allows the public free access to the Burrows, which sits behind the majestic expanse of Saunton Sands beach. Home to 470 species of flowering plant, 33 species of butterfly and 5 of the 6 reptile species native to the UK, it is the perfect example of an outdoor classroom with nature on centre stage.
Another green holiday North Devon destination is Exmoor National Park. A wonderfully scenic mix of heather moorland, seaside cliffs, woods and hidden valleys, the best way to explore Exmoor is on foot. Recognised as one of the best places in Europe for walking, with many picturesque routes, it is also a hit with road cyclists and hosted a section of the Tour of Britain in 2018.
The Sea: Appreciating the Marine Environment
North Devon’s beaches are renowned for their beauty and also their variety – from the sandy open spaces and clean waves of Woolacombeto the rugged coves which extend north along the coast from Ilfracombe.
Perched on the edge of the Atlantic, one can appreciate the glory of the marine environment, but also the need to contribute to its management. A regular feature on the North Devon calendar is the series of beach cleans, which take place throughout the year. These are great occasions, where doing good is mixed with a social aspect and a real sense of achievement as sackfuls of rubbish are pulled off the beach.
Team building and Corporate Social Responsibility
Of course, environmental appreciation doesn’t stop with an eco friendly holiday. In the business sphere corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a buzz phrase for some time.
Those companies that combine business growth with giving something back at an environmental level, benefit from many positives, including better business image and empathy from customers, boosting brand loyalty along the way.
For a business, corporate social responsibility adds value internally too, proven to give employees a sense of worth as well as a sense of team building achievement. The Carlton Hotel saw this at first hand while hosting team building sessionsthis Spring for businesses booked in with our Refreshpackage.
Fitted around seminar sessions on one occasiona collective beachcombing session on one occasion turned into an impromptu beach clean session. The effect was inspiring as delegates discussed the treasures they had turned up over evening drinks at the bar. It was a lovely moment and one that illustrated the power of practical corporate social responsibility at work.
Go green this year with a trip to North Devon’s Adventure coast. Book a stay at the Carlton Hotel, Ilfracombeand marvel at the wonders of the UK’s own backyard (whilst enjoying some of the best in locally sourced and cooked foods)! You can contact the hotel by emailor telephone (01271 862446).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]